About Us

Welcome to Stumpknockers, The Casual, Quaint Restaurant on the beautiful Withlacoochee River with a Southern Touch for your Enjoyment Where Each Meal is Prepared to Order.

Experience the Difference

We’re not a Chain Restaurant, we’re Stumpknockers! Stumpknockers Restaurants have been in business for over 20 years. Over the years, local owners and Inverness natives, Tim and John Channell have assembled a top notch staff to serve up a menu that includes Florida favorites like; Catfish, Frog Legs, Sea Scallops, Steaks and of course Florida Gator. Add that to a fun casual atmosphere and you too can experience the difference.

What is a Stumpknocker?

The Stumpknocker is a fish that has long been a part of Southern fishing lore. You’ll find these small bream-like fish hugging the submerged cypress stumps where they live and feed – thus giving them the name Stumpknockers. Stumpknockers are found in large numbers along the scenic Withlacoochee and other Florida rivers.

Stumpknockers Restaurants is like its namesake – small and tucked away, but well worth the trouble to find.

Visit our other location – Stumpknockers on the on the Square in Historic Downtown Inverness.

House Specialty

What Our Customers Say

Catfish dinner is awesome! The service is fairly quick and friendly. Cool atmosphere and location next to the river. Can eat inside or outdoors. The location is a little drive outside Ocala, but totally worth it if your looking for seafood. We went with a group of 8 people and 6 of us got the catfish dinner. It's cooked perfectly. The tartar sauce is delicious. And generous sides make it a fill-you-up meal! And they serve gator steaks, cooked how you like! Plus much more!H W.

Stumpknockers has been a favorite of me and my friends since we discovered it a few years ago. The absolute best dish on the menu is the Fried Mushrooms. One order is plenty for 3-4 people. The seafood is fresh and delicious. Nothing fancy, just good eating at a reasonable price!Shane B.

This place rocks! You must have the fried catfish...I'm very picky about my catfish, and you will not find better fried catfish anywhere. Love the fried gator...if it's not overcooked, it is excellent. Very rarely have a problem with it here. Love the river and the big cypress trees. Southern cooking at it's best. YUMMY...feel a trip out there coming on.Kimberly D.

Get the all-you-can-eat fried catfish! The first plate that comes out is HUGE and each subsequent plate is two more pieces. We barely got through the second helping. That's something like 14 bucks. Or, if you're not a big eater, the regular platter is probably just as huge, and is 11 bucks. My friend got the stuffed flounder and she loved it.Felix H.